The document provides a lesson on using the indefinite articles "a" and "an" in English. It states the main rule is to use "a" before consonant sounds and "an" before vowel sounds. It then gives examples of when to use each, noting there are sometimes exceptions based on pronunciation rather than spelling. It also includes a short quiz for the reader to practice choosing between "a" and "an" in different contexts.

1. Easy English Lesson: Should you use “A” or
“AN”?
Paper Discussion
Hafizh Ahmad Niskala 22101032003
Maulana Sifa Afriza 22101032101
Dhemis Amandaya 22101032066
Muhammad Fathurrabbani 22101032062
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zFF7tXmfR0
02/06/2022
1

2. today we're looking at the
indefinite article, which is "a" and "an",
and when to use each one. So: "a",
"an", indefinite article. So, there's one
main rule to this that you use "a" before
a consonant sound and "an" before a
vowel sound. But as you'll see,
sometimes there are some little
exceptions where you just have to bear
something in mind to do with how the
word is pronounced, rather than how
it's spelt.
02/06/2022
2

3. You'll see that as we go through.
So, just to look at the list here, the letter
"a", some people will say: "a" which is
okay if you're emphasizing it, but
normally we just pronounce it "uh". So:
"uh bag", "uh coat", you don't say: "a
bag", "a coat".
It doesn't sound very, you know, normal. So: "a bag", "a coat", "a dress". And then
here's the first exception to the rule, this word is spelt with an "E", it begins with an
"E", which you might think: "Well, that's one of the vowels: a, e, i, o u. Why is a
vowel here for 'E'?" And the answer is that when you pronounce this word you're
making a "y" sound, so it's not "e", "e", "European", it's: "Yuropean", so: "a
European", and that's why there are sometimes these exceptions, so that is one of
them.
02/06/2022
3

4. Okay. So, then, continuing: "a fridge", "a giraffe", "a kitchen", "a map", "a
sound". And again, letter "u" is a vowel, but the pronunciation is this "y" sound
again, so: "a university". Okay, so it's important to know how the word sounds
before you know whether to write "a" or "an".
Okay? So I hope that's clear. So let's move on to the other column. This one,
"an" comes before a vowel sound. And, again, we pronounce it... This is: "a", this
is "un", "un". We don't say: "an". People do, again, for emphasis, but: "un",
because this is a very small, little word, it's not one of the most important words
in a sentence, we don't usually emphasize it. So: "an artist", "an exhibition", "an
insult".
If you're not sure what "insult" is, if someone says something bad about you,
they've... That's an insult. If you... If you hear them as well, you say: "That's an
insult. How can you insult me like that?" So, that's an insult, an insult. "An offer",
make me an offer. "An upset", again, if you're not sure of the word "upset", if you
hear somebody insulting you, you will become upset and it becomes an upset.
02/06/2022
4

5. That was an upset when I heard that insult. So: "an upset". Okay? And then,
finally, one other exception, here's one beginning with "h", but it's one of the small
number of words beginning with "h" where you don't pronounce the "h", so it's
pronounced: "onour", so it's as if it began with an "o", so: "an honour".
We don't say: "h-onour", it's: "onour", so: "an honour". So, that's another
little exception. Okay, so I hope that's clear. And we'll now move on to a second
board, where I'll give you a little test where you can choose which of these two to
put in the gaps. Okay. Okay, so now we have a test, and it's for you to decide
whether to put "a" or "an" in each gap. Okay, so let's go.
"Do you have _____ pen?" Which would you put there? "Do you have a
pen?" Okay? Because "p" is a consonant, "pen". "A pen", okay. "I'm looking for
_____ cup." What would you put there? So: "I'm looking for a cup", because "c" is
another consonant. Okay? Next one: "Shall we boil _____ egg? Shall we boil _____
egg?" So "e", is that a consonant or is it a vowel? So, it's a vowel, isn't it? So it's:
"Shall we boil an egg?" Okay. Right.
02/06/2022
5

6. Next one: "How much is _____ Euro worth?" "Worth" meaning: What is the
value of...? Maybe compared to dollars or pounds. So: "How much is _____ Euro
worth?" Euro, it's an "E", but remember it's also about how it sounds. So, when you
say: "Yuro", you're making a "y" sound, like that: "ya". So, it's not "an" in this case,
it's "a". "How much is a Euro worth?" Okay.
Right. So, next one. This is an ominous thing that sometimes people say:
"We need to have _____ talk." And you think: "Oh my goodness, what is this going
to be about?" Anyway. "We need to have a talk." Okay? Because "t" is another
consonant. "A talk".
Right. Next one. You see a tree with apples growing, and you feel like eating
one, so you say: "I'm going to pick _____ apple." So, which one would you put
there? "I'm going to pick an apple." Because "a" is a vowel sound, okay. Next one:
"They used to have _____ dog." Maybe a family next door to you, and you think:
"What...? What's happened to their dog? They used to have _____ dog. They used
to have a dog", because "d" is another consonant. Okay. Right. Next one: "It's not
really _____ problem." Which would you put there? "It's not really a problem"
because "p" is another consonant.
02/06/2022
6

7. Okay. Next one: "I don't think that's _____ option. I don't think
that's _____ option." What would you put? "I don't think that's an
option." Okay? Because "o" is a vowel sound.
And then finally, kings always need somebody to follow them.
So: "The king needs _____ heir." And this word, if you don't know it, is
pronounced: "eir". It has an "h" at the beginning, but the "h" is not
sounded, so: "The king needs _____ heir." So that's really a vowel
sound, isn't it? So: "The king needs an heir." Okay. So, there we are. I
hope... I'm sure you got all of those right. So, I hope that was useful.
7

8. THANK YOU 
02/06/2022 8